|
total countries/territories: 91
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
g. Not applicable
|
There are no mandatory refernda.
Source:
Art. 150 et seq., 177 Constitution
|
2005/03/17
|
|
Algeria
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Article 174, Constitution
|
2005/04/29
|
|
American Samoa
|
b. Independent electoral commission
d. Legislature
e. Registered electors
|
Source:
Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Anguilla
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/30
|
|
Argentina
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Austria
|
d. Legislature
|
The form of the referendum question is defined by law. The electorate is asked whether a certain bill should come into force or whether a Federal President should be removed from office.
Source:
Art. 43 & 46 B-VG, § 9 Volksabstimmungsgesetz 1972.
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Bahrain
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Constitution
|
2005/05/01
|
|
Belarus
|
g. Not applicable
|
Source:
Art 72 et seq, 97, 99 138 et seq. Constitution of Belarus; Electoral Code
|
2005/03/25
|
|
Belgium
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Benin
|
f. Other (specify who)
|
Source:
Internal regulations of the National Assembly, Articles 98.3 et 99.1.
|
2005/06/30
|
|
Botswana
|
c. President
|
Section 5 of the Referendum Act states that the President shall issue the writ of referendum which, inter alia, sets out the "matter on which the poll is to be taken".
Source:
The Referendum Act of the Laws of Botswana, Chapter 02:10 section 5
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Bulgaria
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/03
|
|
Cambodia
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Cape Verde
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Chile
|
c. President
|
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Colombia
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2005/06/23
|
|
Croatia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Cyprus
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Denmark
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Ecuador
|
c. President
e. Registered electors
|
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Egypt
|
c. President
d. Legislature
|
"The amendment of one or more of the Constitution articles may be requested by the President of the Republic or one-fifth of the members of the House of Representatives. The request specifies the articles to be amended and the reasons for the amendments."
Source:
Article 226, Constitution (2014, revised 2019).
|
2025/09/30
|
|
Eritrea
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Eritrean referendum proclamation no. 22/1992 chapter III article 4(a)
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Estonia
|
d. Legislature
f. Other (specify who)
|
d-f) When a draft law is put to referendum, then the question itself is not drafted but fixed by the law (The Referendum Act art. 30). If a national issue is put to referendum, the question is drafted by the parliament. The first version is presented by the initiator (The Riigikogu Rules Of Procedure Act art. 128 (3).
Source:
The Referendum Act, art. 30; The Riigikogu Rules Of Procedure Act art. 128(3)
|
2007/05/23
|
|
Finland
|
g. Not applicable
|
See question A.1.1.
|
2005/04/14
|
|
France
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/03
|
|
Gambia
|
d. Legislature
|
|
2006/11/09
|
|
Ghana
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Aritcle 289 (1) of the 1992 Constitution.
|
2005/12/15
|
|
Greece
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/13
|
|
Guam
|
g. Not applicable
|
Source:
Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director, Guam Election Commission
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
The administration ... of referendums, much like other elections in Iran, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior.
Source:
https://www.sssup.it/UploadDocs/14620_2_R_Duality_by_Design__The_Iranian_Electoral_System_Yasmin_Alem.pdf
|
2016/01/23
|
|
Iraq
|
d. Legislature
|
July 2005 being the only experience so far
Source:
Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD
|
2007/01/03
|
|
Israel
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/04
|
|
Kiribati
|
a. Government (specify department)
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Constitution
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Latvia
|
c. President
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994, article 1.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Lebanon
|
g. Not applicable
|
Source:
constitution
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Lesotho
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Source:
The 2001 Electoral Act
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Liberia
|
a. Government (specify department)
c. President
d. Legislature
e. Registered electors
|
the legislature has the power to do so generally
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (1992) as amended on 25 April 2006; Law: Republic of Lithuania Law on Referendum, last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860, art. 4-5.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
d. Legislature
|
Law on Referendum, Article 3: Referendum shall be mandatory announced for adopting a decision of the Assembly for changing the border of the Republic and the decision for joining or abandoning an alliance or unity with other states.
Constitution, Art. 120:
A proposal for association in a union or community with other states or for dissociation from a union or community with other states may be submitted by the President of the Republic, the Government or by at least 40 Representatives. The proposal for association in or dissociation from a union or community with other states is accepted by the Assembly by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of Representatives. The decision of association in or dissociation from a union or community is adopted if it is upheld in a referendum by the majority of the total number of voters in the Republic.
Source:
Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, art. 3
https://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/5640
Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, Art. 120
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/mk/mk014en.pdf
|
2020/04/23
|
|
Madagascar
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
http://www.z6.com/z6files/z6files/fotw/flags/mg.html
|
2005/08/25
|
|
Malawi
|
f. Other (specify who)
|
f) The Referendum Commission
Source:
Regulation of 1993: Extraordinary Gazette No. 4A
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Malaysia
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
c. President
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Article 41 de la Constitution
|
2005/06/03
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
g. Not applicable
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Montenegro
|
f. Other (specify who)
|
The Assembly of the Republic is responsible.
Art. 5: The decision on calling a referendum shall determine specifically, the wording of the question on which the citizens are to pronounce themselves in the referendum, as well as the date of holding the referendum.
Source:
Law: Law on Referendum as of 19 February 2001, Art. 5
https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL(2005)076-e
|
2021/12/25
|
|
Morocco
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Article 104, Constitution
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Mozambique
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Namibia
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/16
|
|
Netherlands
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2005/08/19
|
|
New Zealand
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
The Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Source:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/have-your-say/seek-a-referendum/
|
2024/07/12
|
|
Niger
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Article 6 de la constitution et Code electoral Chapitre III et IV
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Norway
|
g. Not applicable
|
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Peru
|
e. Registered electors
|
Source:
art. 8 de la Ley de los Derechos de Control y Participacion Ciudadanos
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Philippines
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
As a matter of practice, no specific provision of law
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Poland
|
c. President
d. Legislature
|
The body that gives the order to hold a referendum
Source:
Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003 Art 60-61
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Portugal
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/20
|
|
Romania
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Constitution, 2003, 150-152; Law on referendums, 2000, article 1-12.
|
2005/03/20
|
|
Russian Federation
|
f. Other (specify who)
|
Federal authority determined in the international treaty.
Source:
Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art. 22. (1)
|
2005/03/19
|
|
Rwanda
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
The referendum shall take the form of a question asked to eligible voters and to provide responses regarding questions asked shall be determined by the instructions of the National Electoral Commission
Source:
Electoral laws Article 175. http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/RW/rwanda-organic-law-nb0-17-2003-of-07-07-2003/view
|
2018/11/02
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
g. Not applicable
|
Not explicitly stated.
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Senegal
|
a. Government (specify department)
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
Tanor Tandhiela Fall
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Seychelles
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
elections act chapter 68A section 56
|
2005/04/01
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
a. Government (specify department)
|
LAW OFFICER DEPT. (STATE ATTORNEY)
|
2005/06/13
|
|
Singapore
|
c. President
|
Source:
Constitution, article 5A (1)
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
g. Not applicable
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
http://www.somalilandforum.com/somaliland/law/the_election_bill.htm#Commission
|
2005/08/25
|
|
South Africa
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
1) A Referendum in terms of Chapter XIII of me Constitution shall be conducted by the Commissioner of Elections (hereinafter referred to as the Commissioner ), where the President has, by Proclamation published in the Gazette, directed such Commissioner to conduct a Referendum.
(2) A Proclamation issued under subsection (1) shall
(a) specify the proposal to be put to the People at the Referendum in the form of a question which shall be answered by a " Yes " or a " No "
Source:
Referendum Act, art. 2: http://www.commonlii.org/lk/legis/num_act/ra7o1981166/s2.html
|
2016/02/15
|
|
Sudan
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Article 66 and 128, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Sweden
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
The Instrument of the Government Ch. 8, Section 16: Official Website of the Parliament: http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Start/Bestall/Sprakversioner/English---engelska1/Sveriges-grundlagar-och-riksdagsordningen1/ (2012)
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
a. Government (specify department)
e. Registered electors
|
a) The Federal Council
The referendum question has to contain the title of the constitutional amendment or the Federal Statute. The question-scheme is always the same: Do you want to accept the Federal Statute XYZ? the voter can then indicate Yes or No
If the mandatory referendum is being held because of a popular initiative, the title of the initiative which is repeated the referendum question is chosen by the registered electors who started the initiative. In that respect, the referendum question is in fact chosen by the initiative committee (however, cf. answer to question C.5 for possible restrictions on initiative titles).
Source:
The principle of how the question has to look like derives from the principle of free suffrage. The voter has to be able to express his/her vote in a free manner, which means (amongst other things) that it has to be clear what the voter means by voting Yes or No. The principle of free suffrage is laid down in Art. 136 FC. The question always relates to the proposed change in a way that if the answer is Yes, the change is accepted; if the answer is No, the status quo is kept.
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Togo
|
c. President
f. Other (specify who)
|
Source:
Constitution 1992 titre 13 article 144 alineas 1 et 3.
|
2005/05/13
|
|
Tonga
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2021/09/15
|
|
Tunisia
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Turkey
|
c. President
d. Legislature
|
Drafting of the question is practically the constitution amending law.
Source:
Art 175 Constitution
|
2015/06/01
|
|
Uganda
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
Source:
http://www.africaaction.org/docs00/ugan0004.htm
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Ukraine
|
f. Other (specify who)
|
Referendum Initiative Group, art. 16 of the Law on referenda
Source:
art. 16 of the Law on referenda
|
2005/03/17
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/09
|
|
Uruguay
|
b. Independent electoral commission
|
El texto es simple y dice: SI o NO (la boleta que corresponda) a la derogación de la Ley N° ........, de .... de............ del año........, relativa a .........................................................
Source:
Artículos 40 y 41 de la Ley N° 16.017 de 20 de enero de 1989
|
2006/04/11
|
|
Viet Nam
|
g. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/25
|
|
Western Sahara
|
c. President
|
Source:
Article 119, Constitution
|
2009/08/14
|
|
Yemen
|
c. President
|
Source:
Article 119, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Zambia
|
f. Other (specify who)
|
f) The Referendum Commission.
Source:
The 1967 Referendum Act
|
2006/10/16
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
d. Legislature
|
Source:
Zimbabwe Electoral laws 157 (1). http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZW/zimbabwe-consolidated-electoral-act-amended-2018/view
|
2018/10/31
|
